Kellen Winslow tells students to surround themselves with good people
Heart of a Hall of Famer
Published on : 11/6/2025
Students in Michigan heard a message of humility, teamwork and dreaming big as Hall of Famer KELLEN WINSLOW visited Fordson High School in a recent installment of the Pro Football Hall of Fame’s Heart of a Hall of Famer program connected by Extreme Networks.
Winslow, the legendary tight end for the San Diego Chargers, began by reflecting on his legacy — not through records or accolades, but through gratitude for those who helped him reach the Hall of Fame.
“Of those 382 Hall of Famers, we all get a number. I’m number 180,” he said. “It’s humbling, and am I worthy of this honor? No.”
Winslow told the students his original plan for his life looked a lot different.
“My goal was to be a history teacher but then football came along. The only reason my bust is in Canton is because of the people I played with,” he said. “The coaches I was exposed to. My quarterback is in the Hall of Fame, one of my wide receivers is in the Hall of Fame, my head coach is in the Hall of Fame and my offensive coordinator is in the Hall of Fame. You’re only as good as the people who surround you!”
His message resonated with students as a reminder that success is never achieved alone.
Before wrapping up the program, Winslow left the auditorium with a powerful call to action: “You’ve got to dream; you’ve got to dream. I don’t care what your situation is … but I was a dreamer. I met people who supported my dream. When I was in ninth grade, I came downstairs and told my mother I was going to go to college and she wasn’t going to pay for it. I was going to go on a football scholarship.
“Dream. Share your dreams. Talk about them. Dream!”
From a youngster inspired by education to a Hall of Famer who helped redefine the tight end position, Winslow showed the students that their aspirations can take them further than they have imagined as long as they dare to pursue them.
To hear more from Winslow, watch the full Heart of a Hall of Famer program below or by clicking here.
To hear more from Kellen Winslow, Hall of Famer No. 180, watch the full Heart of a Hall of Famer program here:
Winslow, the legendary tight end for the San Diego Chargers, began by reflecting on his legacy — not through records or accolades, but through gratitude for those who helped him reach the Hall of Fame.
“Of those 382 Hall of Famers, we all get a number. I’m number 180,” he said. “It’s humbling, and am I worthy of this honor? No.”
Winslow told the students his original plan for his life looked a lot different.
“My goal was to be a history teacher but then football came along. The only reason my bust is in Canton is because of the people I played with,” he said. “The coaches I was exposed to. My quarterback is in the Hall of Fame, one of my wide receivers is in the Hall of Fame, my head coach is in the Hall of Fame and my offensive coordinator is in the Hall of Fame. You’re only as good as the people who surround you!”
His message resonated with students as a reminder that success is never achieved alone.
Before wrapping up the program, Winslow left the auditorium with a powerful call to action: “You’ve got to dream; you’ve got to dream. I don’t care what your situation is … but I was a dreamer. I met people who supported my dream. When I was in ninth grade, I came downstairs and told my mother I was going to go to college and she wasn’t going to pay for it. I was going to go on a football scholarship.
“Dream. Share your dreams. Talk about them. Dream!”
From a youngster inspired by education to a Hall of Famer who helped redefine the tight end position, Winslow showed the students that their aspirations can take them further than they have imagined as long as they dare to pursue them.
To hear more from Winslow, watch the full Heart of a Hall of Famer program below or by clicking here.
To hear more from Kellen Winslow, Hall of Famer No. 180, watch the full Heart of a Hall of Famer program here:
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